Electric-light support



(No Model.) 2 sheets-sneer 1.

C. HEISLER.

ELECTRIC LIGHT SUPPORT.

ATTEST.:

N. FETERa PhmmLimogmplmr. waslvingmn, D. C.

` UNITED STATES PATENT CEETQE.

CHARLES HEISLER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

`ELECTRIC-LIGHT SUPPORT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 251,116, dated December 20, 1881.

' Application tiled November 1, 1880. (No model.)

i .To all whom tt may concern:

Beit known that I, CHARLES Hammam, a

citizen of the United States, residing at St.

Louis, in the State ot' Missouri, have invent-ed a certain new and useful Improved Electric- Light Support; and l do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification. y

The present invention relates to a method of automatically lighting electric lamps (having one or more sets ot' carbon electrodes) when the same are raised to their proper position and extinguishing the same when they are lowered from said position, and also to a method for preventing any change in the normal resistance of the main line by the extinguishing of any one or more lights in'said main line;- and my invention consists- First, in the provision, in an electric lighting system, of a suitable automatic switch, operated by the raising of the lamp to establish connection -for the passage of the electrical current and the formation ot the voltaic arc between the carbons of the lamp, said switch being operated by the lowering of the lamp to break connection and extinguish the lamp.

Second, in the provision, in an electric lighting` system where two or more lamps are inserted in one line, of an automatic switch and shunt, soarranged that when a lamp is lowered said switch will be automatically operated to switch the current into the shunt, which is of equal resistance to the voltaic arc, so that the withdrawal of one or more lamps from the line will not change the normal resistance ot' the main line. The shunt and switch are attached to the stationary guide-frame of the lamp, and each lamp is provided with its separate switch and shunt.`

Third,in an electric lighting system, the provision,in connection with the automatic switch and shunt, as above set forth, of an electromagnet placed in the circuit, which acts to automatically shunt the current when, from any cause, the voltaic' arc of the lamp becomes broken.

vIn the annexed drawings, in which similar letters ot' reference indicate like parts in all the figures, Figure 1 is a sideview, partly in section, illustrating my invention as arranged for use ona boom-derrick. Fig. 2 is a detail vertical section of the automatic switch, shunt, Sto. Fig. 3 is ahorizontal section of the same at line x x. Fig. et is a detail section of the contact-ring, &c., of the automatic switch. Fig. 5is a side view, partly in section, illustrating my invention as applied to a mast or pole. Fig. 6 is a detail horizontal section of the pole or mast. my invention as arran ged for use iu rooms, Ste., and also the mode ot' using two or more sets of carbons in each lamp. section ot' the same at line m.

As shown inthe drawings, A represents an electric lamp ot' any suitable form and construction, which is attached to a cord, B, passing over pulley or pulleys b to a windingdrum, B. The lamp, when in its up position, engages in the guide frame or bracket C, and the arrangement and construction ot parts will be modified to suit the location and use to-which the lamp is applied.

Fig. l illustrates an electric lamp applied to a boom-derrick, for use on steamboats, docks, 8m.; Fig. 5 as applied to a vertical pole or mast, for use on ships, outdoor illumination, &c., and Fig. 7 as applied for use in rooms, halls, &c.

Tothe guide frame or bracket Gis attached the fixed part ofthe automatic switch D, used formakingand breaking electrical connection with the electric lamp. This switch may be of any suitable form-or construction, either mechanical or electrical, that will act when the lamp is raised to its proper position to close contact and form the voltaic arc between the carbons of the lamp, and when the lamp is lowered will break contact and-extinguish the lamp.

In an electric lighting system where more than one lamp is used in the same circuit,- a shunt, E, will be arranged, in connection with the' switch D, so that when a lamp is withdrawn from the circuit the switch D will be automatically operated to insert the shunt E in the circuit in place of the voltaic arc of the Fig. 7 is a vertical section, illustrating Fig. 8 is a horizontal IOO is in metallic contact therewith.

lamp Withdrawn, and thus prevent any change in the normal resistance of the main line by such withdrawal of one or more lamps.

In Fig. 2 is illustrated my preferred manner of carrying out my system: The electric lamp A is provided with an upwardly-prijecting guide-stein, a, to which the lifting-cord is attached, and by means of which the lamp is guided and held in position in guides C on the bracket-frame C, as shown. rlhe guide-stem a, when thelainp is in its up position, is in metallic contact with the contact-plate d, connected to the pole of the main line, that connects with the upper-carbon electrode ot' the lamp.

d is a switch or contact ring on the guidestem a, properly insulated, as shown, i'roin the metal portion of the stem a, but in metallic contact with the insulated screw a', that is connected to the lower-carbon electrode of the lamp.

d2 is a spring contact-plate connected to the opposite pole ofthe main line, and which, when thelamp is in its up position, is in contact with the switch-ring d and the lower-carbon electrode of the lamp. The contact-plates d d2 form the fixed parts ot' the automatic switch, while the lamp-stem a, with its insulated ring d', forms the movable part of the same.

E is a shunt, properly insulated from the casing C2, and having a contact-point, e, with which the spring contact-plate d2 comes in contact to automatically shunt the electric current when the lamp is lowered.

In order to automatically shunt the current when thelamp becomes extinguished from any cause, I have arranged an electro-magnet, F, attached to the guide-frame and placed in the circuit. Thearmaturefof this electro-magnet has branch connection with the main line, a-nd is attracted by the electro-magnet when the lamp is burning, and when the lamp is extinguished is released and drawn by spring' f into connection with the contact-point c' of the shunt E, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

In an electric lighting system where each light has its separate wire and a principal wire used as a return-wire, the use of a shunt and a shunt and electro-magnet, as above described, may be dispensed with.

In Fig. 7 I have illustrated this system with -a lamp employing two sets of carbons. As shown, the guide-frame U is provided with three circular contact-rings, d3 0lL d5, the two outer ones, d4 d5, of which are insulated from the supporting-frame, while the inner one, d3, The inner contact-plate, d3, has connection with the mainline return-wire, and the two outer plates, d" d5, are connected with a suitable 'switch at the generator, so that either plate can be put in connection with the same, and so that when one set of carbons is consumed the other set 'can be switched in either automatically or by hand, so as to continue the light. The contact between the plates d3 d d5 and the lamp, 85e.,

is -made by the tlexibleor spring contact-points d, as clearly indicated in Fig. 7.

By making the contact-plates d" d5 circular, as shown and described, a perfect contact is .obtained with the point d6, regardless ot' what position the lamp may arrive at when raised, as it is impossible to prevent a turning motion ot' the lamp when suspended bya cord or rope.

The contact-points d are formed so as to have considerable of a spring movement, in order to make a close contact with plates d dl d5 and allow for any stretching ot the lifting cord B of the lamp.

-The glass globe H, used to inclose the light, is made removable in the following manner: h h are cords or chains connected to the top of the globe and passing over pulleys 7L', to be connected to counterpoiseweights h2, preferably arranged to move within the tubular supports a2 of the lower-carbon holder.

In order to adjust the heights of the posts C3,tubular extensions C", &c.,so that the same can be lengthened and adjusted by the insertion ot' a piece of tube, I have arranged the same in sections, which are secured together by couplings G5, and the necessary conductingw-ires can be, when desired, carried through the inside ol" said tubes.

The advantages derived from my improved eleetriclighting system are: rst, it is automatic inits action,merel v requiring to be raised or lowered in order to light or extinguish the lamp; second, it facilitates the cleaning ot the globe and lamp and the setting of the carbons in a perpendicular line in the lamps, as the lamps can be lowered down into easy reach from the floor or ground inperforming this work; third, it is well known to the art that a high tension, as Well as alternated currents, are very dangerous to the operator who handles the lamps while in operation, which danger is altogether avoided in my system, owing to the fact that the lamp is entirely out ofthe circuit when lowered, which is owing to the fact that the shunt, Ste., are arranged on the guide-frame ofthe lamp, and haveno connection with the lamp when lowered; fourth, my improved system allows ofthe lifting-cords, pulleys, conducting-wires, Ste., being arranged out of sight above the ceiling I and behind the plastering J, as clearly indicated in Fig. 7; fifth, it prevents all the lamps from being extinguished when any one lamp burns out or becomes accidentally extinguished, and which allows of said lamp being withdrawn from the circuit and replenished and adjusted without affecting any ot' the other lamps in the line; sixth, by the use of the spring contact-points d a close contact is kept up, and not affected by any stretching 'of the lifting-cord of the lamp.

o I am aware that prior to my invention lamps have been raised and lowered by cords and pulleys, also by means of a lflexible conductor, leaving the lamp or some portion thereof at all times in the circuit. I am also aware that IOO IOS

IIO

automatic shunts have been provided as a tixture in electric lamps when two or more of such lamps have been used in a circuit. do not claim such construction or arrangement, broadly; but

What I do claim as new and novel, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isv 1. The combination, with a stationary support or post, cof an electriclamp which is adapted to be raised and lowered by a rope, of a set of contact-points arranged on the lamp, which are automatically brought into and out of contact by the raising and lowering of the lamp with the stationary7 contact-plates connected to the generator, substantially as herein described, and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with an electric lamp which is adapted to be raised and lowered by a rope, of one or more guides and a set ot' contact-points arranged on the lamp, and which are automatically brought into and out of contact by the raising` and lowering of the lamp with stationary contact-plates connected to the generator, substantially as herein' described, and for the purpose set forth.

3. In an electric-lighting system having two or more lamps in the circuit, the combination I therefore ot' a. stationary support or guide provided with a shunt, and a switch, D, consisting of a ring, d, contactrng d', and spring contact plate d2, with the lamps arranged to be raised and lowered into and out ot' contact by a rope, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In an electriclighting system having two Yor more lamps in the circuit, the combination of a stationary support or guide provided with a shunt, a switch, D, consisting ot' a ring, d,

contact-ring d', and spring contact-plate d' contact-points d6, that are concentric with the axis of theA lamp, as and for the purpose set forth.

CHARLES HEISLER. Witnesses:

RoBERT BURNS, GLENN M. WHITESIDE. 

